Oregon man, 73, acquitted of child sex abuse

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A 73-year-old former community-college instructor has been acquitted of sex-abuse charges involving young children.

Richard Montgomery had faced 13 counts of sex abuse against three girls and a boy, all siblings who knew him.

But Benton County Circuit Judge Locke Williams acquitted Montgomery on Friday after Montgomery’s wife testified he rarely had isolated contact with the children and a neighbor testified she had no concerns about her own children.

Deputy District Attorney Karen Stanley said sex-abuse cases are difficult to prosecute because there often is no physical evidence.